Improve your financial fitness with Continuing Education Classes at COD
The College of DuPage Continuing Education program offers courses designed to help adults manage personal finances and strategize investment and retirement options.
Through a diverse list of course offerings, students will learn the basics of budgeting, debt management, income and estate taxes, credit improvement, retirement planning, tax preparation and identity theft protection. All classes are held on the college's Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., unless otherwise noted.
Finance and investment courses for the Spring 2019 term include the following:
• Complete Guide to Investing: Students will learn about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, royalty trusts, commodities, annuities, real estate investment trusts and asset allocation. This hands-on, practical and comprehensive course gives students the tools necessary to help guide a healthy financial future. Classes meet from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 to Feb. 20.
• Credit Rating for Beginners: Students will learn ways to improve their credit scores and will also run through the basics of late payments, job loss, foreclosure and bankruptcy. This course meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13.
• Credit Ratings - Beyond the Basics: This one-day course takes students' credit monitoring skills to the next level. Students will learn the advanced techniques to build and maintain a good credit score. This course meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20.
• Income and Estate Taxes: The More You Know, The Less You Pay: Students will examine the ways to reduce the devastating effect taxes can have on future wealth and financial success. This course meets from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7.
• Retirement Planning Today: Learn ways to avoid the 10 biggest retirement planning mistakes. The course is conveniently offered from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, from Jan. 21 to Feb. 7, or from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, from Jan. 29 to Feb. 12. Additional course offerings are from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, from Feb. 21 to March 7, at the College's Westmont Center; 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, from Feb. 26 to March 12, at the College's Westmont Center; or 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, from April 11 to 25, at the College's Naperville Center.
• Retirement Strategies for Challenging Times: Learn how to build a portfolio and explore important topics such as low interest rates, stock market volatility, stagnant or falling real estate prices, the potential for higher taxes, the fear of runaway inflation and the skyrocketing cost of health care. This course meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21.
• Stock Options: Learn how to use stock options to increase return, protect existing stock investments or speculate using leverage. Learn option terminology and a step-by-step approach to understand how options work. This course is offered from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays from Feb. 12 to March 12.
• Top 10 IRA Mistakes: Explore the top 10 mistakes related to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and explores ways to avoid them. Discussion includes information about conversion and beneficiary designation, as well as strategies to maximize value and minimize taxes. This course meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.
Interested participants do not need to apply to College of DuPage to register for Continuing Education classes. Students can register online at cod.edu/academics/conted/registration.aspx or call the CE Registration staff at (630) 942-2208 for personalized assistance.
View a complete list of spring 2019 continuing education courses at www.cod.edu/academics/conted/pdf/schedule.pdf.
The Continuing Education program at College of DuPage offers a variety of credit and noncredit courses, classes, programs and workshops that provide learning experiences through a broad range of disciplines in personal development, professional advancement or life enhancement.